Columbia Bank Hosts Annual Week of Giving to Assist New Jersey Communities in Need Team Columbia Volunteers Unite to Spread Holiday Cheer

Columbia Bank is pleased to announce its continued support of New Jersey communities in need, by hosting its annual Week of Giving. During the week of November 14th, 2022, nearly 100% of “Team Columbia” employees donated their time to volunteer and make a meaningful impact at local organizations throughout the state. Additionally, over 150 turkeys were donated to those in need.

Said Thomas J. Kemly, President and CEO of Columbia Bank, “While our dedication to giving back is displayed all year long, the Week of Giving is proof of just how large Team Columbia’s impact truly is. In just one week, we were able to support over 50 organizations through approximately 2,000 volunteer hours. As a community bank, we’re thrilled to not only do business in the regions we serve, but to be vital members of the communities.”

Philanthropic endeavors included:

BERGEN COUNTY:

• Age-Friendly, Teaneck - Assisted in hosting Greek Night event by serving food, decorating and cleaning up.
• Center for Food Action, Saddle Brook - Sorted and bagged produce to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need within the community.
• Children's Aid and Family Services, Paramus - Prepared and painted all common areas and hallways at Montvale and Bogota locations.
• Christian Health, Wyckoff - Helped prepare the Snoep Winkle Gift Shop for the holidays.
• Friends to Friends Community Church, Ridgewood - Painted hallways, stairwells, meeting rooms, preschool rooms and main office.
• Habitat for Humanity Bergen County, Westwood - In honor of Veteran’s Day, assisted with new home construction including sheet rocking and painting.
• Open Door Community Center, South Hackensack - Volunteers assisted with food packaging and distribution to residents of the local community.
• Table to Table, Englewood - Unloaded food and prepared over 600 individual food bags which were distributed to those in need.
• The Food Brigade, Dumont – Assemble bags for client orders.
• Westwood American Legion, Westwood - Painted rooms including the catering hall, kitchen and bathroom.

CAMDEN COUNTY:

• Animal Welfare Association, Voorhees - Organized and cleaned storage unit.
• Cathedral Kitchen, Camden - Readied dining room for meal service, prepared and donated sandwiches.
• Joseph’s House, Camden - Assembled toiletry kits.
• Urban Promise, Pennsauken Township - Assisted with garden restoration.

ESSEX COUNTY:

• Franciscan Charities, Newark - Unloaded turkeys, organized food, and distributed to clients.
• Greater Life, Newark - Assisted with the food pantry and coat closet by sorting, bagging, and distributing food to families, and organized new coats by gender and sizes.
• Greater Newark Conservancy, Newark - Cleared garden beds, weeded, raked, and composted.
• James Social Services, Newark - Assembled and distributed food bags, restocked shelves, and served food.
• Joseph Social Service Center, Elizabeth - Unloaded food truck, packed monthly meal bags, and prepared 160 sandwiches.
• Rutgers University, Newark - Donated professional attire to students.
• United Way of Newark & Essex County, Newark - Donated professional attire to clients.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY:

• Fearless Movement, Washington Township - Assembled “at-home” art therapy kits containing various art supplies and stress-relieving activities, for differently-abled children.
• Habitat for Humanity of Gloucester County, Pitman - Helped build a Veteran’s Home and organized ReStore.
• Your Place at the Table, Harrison Township - Helped in the food pantry with packing items and assisted clients.

HUDSON COUNTY:

• New City Kids: Jersey City, Jersey City - Entertained students at the after-school center, led and supervised holiday decorating stations, games, and activities. Assisted with clean up.

HUNTERDON COUNTY:

• America’s Grow a Row, Milford - Helped harvest crops such as cabbage for those in need.
• Flemington Food Pantry, Flemington - Stocked shelves, organized food and broke down recycling cardboard.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

• Five Loaves Food Pantry, New Brunswick - Assisted clients with shopping, served meals to Rutgers University students, and assisted with general clean up.

MONMOUTH COUNTY:

• Fulfill Monmouth, Neptune City - Packed and distributed crisis relief packages for agencies in need.
• Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County, Freehold - Greeted guests, helped customers, assisted with sales, worked in warehouse, loaded and unloaded trucks, and moved furniture.
• Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern New Jersey, Long Branch - Wrote holiday letters and prepared craft packages for children battling health conditions.

MORRIS COUNTY:

• Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Boonton - Prepared for food delivery and distribution, cleaned shelves and sorted donations.
• Morris Habitat for Humanity, Randolph - Greeted guests, helped customers, assisted with sales, worked in warehouse, loaded and unloaded trucks and moved furniture.

PASSAIC COUNTY:

• Blue Star Mothers of Northern New Jersey, West Milford - Sorted and assembled care packages to be distributed overseas to military members.
• Calvary Temple, Wayne - Organized food and supplies, packed grocery bags and assisted with distribution.
• Team Columbia prepared and served meals for people in need at OASIS in
• Paterson, NJ during the Banks’ Week of Giving. Photo courtesy of Columbia Bank.
• CUMAC, Paterson - Sorted vegetables, packed nourishing grocery bags and worked in warehouse.
• Eva’s Village, Paterson - Packed and distributed hot to-go meals to sustain people through the weekend.
• Hands 4 Youth, West Milford - Prepared for summer camp, painted, repaired buildings and cleaned grounds.
• Holland Christian Home, North Haledon - Decorated for the holidays to spread cheer to residents.
• Oasis, Paterson - Prepared and served meals. Also tutored and assisted with homework at after-school program.
• Passaic County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Wayne - Sorted donations for children entering foster care.
• Pompton Reformed Church, Pompton Lakes - Assisted with set up, food preparation and served dinner.
• Salvation Army of Paterson, Paterson - Cleaned and organized the kitchen, closet and exterior.
• Paul CDC, Paterson - Assembled toiletry kits.
• Star of Hope Ministries, Paterson - Packed boxes of non-perishable food and stacked boxes onto a pallet.
• Youth Consultation Services, Paterson - Installed vinyl “wood” floor, painted bedrooms and living room.

SOMERSET COUNTY:

• Moms Helping Moms, Warren - Donated diapers to New Jersey families in need.
• Raritan Food Pantry, Raritan - Helped staff store and offered food items.
• The Arc of Somerset, Warren - Leaf cleanup and cabin cleaning.

UNION COUNTY:

• Boro of Roselle, Roselle - Served Thanksgiving dinners to seniors.
• Rahway Food for Friends, Rahway - Prepared food packages, sorted and lifted boxes, stocked shelves and assisted clients.